Does John McCain Want to Ban Contraception?
by Chris Edelson
http://www.theseminal.com

While the mainstream media has delved into every detail of Barack Obama-related trivia, from his bowling score to whether he wears a flag lapel pin, there has been precious little attention paid to John McCain.  As a result, Americans are uninformed, or misinformed, about John McCain's positions on the issues, and no one asks McCain to explain his close associations with extreme supporters, including a convicted felon. 

Many Republican voters mistakenly believe McCain supports abortion rights.  But McCain's extreme position in this area actually goes well beyond opposition to legalized abortion.  Participants in focus groups are surprised to learn that, not only does McCain favor overturning Roe v. Wade, he opposes requirements that health plans provide contraception coverage. 

In fact, McCain boasts of his opposition to federally funded contraception programs (which provide access to comprehensive family planning for low income and uninsured Americans) and relies on ultra-extreme Sen. Tom Coburn for advice on sexual health matters.  Coburn, McCain's go-to guy on this issue, has argued that condoms are unsafe, 

McCain has other supporters with extreme views in this area.  Sen. Sam Brownback, the Christian right's preferred candidate for president, but now a McCain supporter, calls abortion a "holocaust".  Tom Monaghan, the ultra-radical Domino's pizza founder, and another McCain supporter, tried to establish a town in Florida where pharmacies would not carry condoms or birth control pills.

McCain himself has said that he has no idea if contraceptives help spread the spread of HIV and supports the failed policy of abstinence-only "sex education '.

If we had a functioning media in the United States, it would ask McCain these questions, as a start:

• Do you agree with your supporter Tom Monaghan that contraception should be prohibited? (If not–then why have you opposed federal programs that make contraception available to low-income Americans?  Do you think contraception should only be available to those who can afford it?)
• You admitted during an interview that you didn't know whether condoms help spread HIV.  Can you answer that question now, or are you still stumped?  Do you agree with your advisor on these matters, Sen. Coburn, that condoms are unsafe?
• Do you agree with your supporter, Sen. Brownback, that abortion is a "holocaust"? (If not, will you denounce Brownback's suggestion that abortion is comparable to genocide?  Can you understand that survivors of the Nazi holocaust are deeply offended by your supporter's use of the word in this context?)

McCain is supposed to be an independent, a maverick, a moderate.  When it comes to abortion, reproductive rights, even contraception, McCain is an extremist who looks to other extremists for support and advice.  The overwhelming majority of Americans, of all political stripes reject McCain's radical views.  91% say that contraception should be safe and available to couples. 76% say that contraception should be widely available and accessible to teenagers.  73% favor making it easier for women at all income levels to obtain contraceptives. 

McCain is far removed from the mainstream on these issues, but most Americans will never know it unless the media starts doing its job and decides Barack Obama isn't the only candidate who should get probing questions.   The difference is that McCain and his radical supporters threaten to turn back the clock more than 40 years on access to contraception while Obama's bowling ability doesn't threaten anyone except maybe the person in the next lane.

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